Why Are More Gen Zs Retreating From Work, Education? Answer Isn't Laziness

Gen Z has 'Peter Pan syndrome'—They struggle with the responsibilities and commitments. But whose fault is that? Are they drowning in options and still not making a choice, or were they never really given a fair choice to begin with? Is the satire in their silence, in their scrolling, in their 'soft quitting'? Are they truly living in a magical world, or trapped in a dystopia wrapped in soft aesthetics and LinkedIn motivation posts?

More Gen Z are 'NEET', meaning 'Not in Employment, Education, or Training.'

NEET: Not in Employment, Education, or Training

A label, yes. But more than that, a mirror. One that reflects not just a lost generation, but a generation that has been systematically failed.

So is this wave a rebellion—or a systemic crisis? I choose the second.

Gen Z is constantly labelled as lazy, directionless, and drowning in opportunities. But is that really so—or is it the illusion of a perfect world we’ve handed them, gift-wrapped in buzzwords and burnout? These "opportunities" are nothing but the glittering disguise of a deeper systemic failure.

The Illusion of Choice: A Utopia That Demands Capital

There’s a darkly satirical layer beneath this shiny utopia we’ve created for Gen Z. Yes, they have YouTube, freelancing, and LinkedIn courses. But all of it requires personal capital—money, devices, support, and time. They hustle to be “productive,” but the market devours their skills for free through unpaid internships and glorified “exposure.”

They’re “free to choose,” but none of the choices feel safe.

And when the weight of it all hits, the coping mechanisms kick in—gaming, reels, self-employment fantasies. They play pretend CEO while gig working with no insurance. They become influencers not because it's glamorous, but because the job market is shrinking.

But the problem doesn’t end there. Being NEET long-term doesn’t just affect individuals—it chips away at national productivity, spirals into depression, and deepens financial dependence. It hits young women harder, too, because when a girl isn’t working or studying, society too often says: “Just marry her off. She was born for the home anyway.”

According to the International Labour Organisation's 2023 survey, 1 in 5 young people worldwide is NEET. About 4 in 10 Gen Zers are willing to quit and rely on unemployment benefits, according to PwC. 

It’s no longer just a generational opinion—it’s a documented trend. These aren't isolated cases or social media exaggerations. The numbers show a clear pattern: young people across the globe are stepping back, not out of rebellion, but because the systems built to support them are crumbling beneath their feet.

Peter Pan never grew up. Gen Z tried. But oops—the rent, groceries, and living costs forced them back into dependence. And if this chaos is what we still call “opportunity,” maybe it’s time we looked harder at the system. Because where’s the staircase to this magical attic of choices we keep promising them?

They’re not dreaming of Neverland. They’re surviving a capitalist dystopia in disguise.

Views expressed are the author's own.